Arsenic is a silver-gray or ven white sort of metallic solid element that is found in nature. It combines with other elements to form organic and also inorganic compounds. Inorganic arsenic compounds are said to be more toxic and dangerous than the organic types.
In the U.S., the highest levels of natural arsenic are found in the more western states. Arsenic is found in groundwaer in all 50 states, mainly in the areas with shallow groundwater reserves and large amounts of arsenic in the soil and also mineral deposits. Farming and medicine industries have all used inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic is no longer produced in the U.S. but it is brought in from other countries. Until the 1940s, the inoganic arsenic compounds were onlyused as pesticides and now the use of arsenic in farming has been banned from the United States. Arsenic in the soil is a result of pesticide use, mining and ore processing, operating coalburning power plants, waste disposal, and tanneries. You can be exposed to arsenic by:
Touching soil that contains arsenic; digging or playing in it
Eating soil that contains it; litte kids could eat it while playing or you could drink contaminated water
Breathing in arsenic contaminated dust or breathing in sawdust from wood treated with arsenic
Eye contact with arsenic contaminated dust (this is very uncommon)
High doses of arsenic can be deadly if taken in during a short period of time. Long-term, small doses will not cause an immediate effect but may result in cancer of the skin, bladder, liver, kidneys, and lungs. Even the inorganic arsenic can cause cancer. High levels of arsenic in drinking water can also cause the skin on your feet, hands and torso to conduct sores or change color.
Arsenic is a silver-gray or ven white sort of metallic solid element that is found in nature. It combines with other elements to form organic and also inorganic compounds. Inorganic arsenic compounds are said to be more toxic and dangerous than the organic types.
In the U.S., the highest levels of natural arsenic are found in the more western states. Arsenic is found in groundwaer in all 50 states, mainly in the areas with shallow groundwater reserves and large amounts of arsenic in the soil and also mineral deposits. Farming and medicine industries have all used inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic is no longer produced in the U.S. but it is brought in from other countries. Until the 1940s, the inoganic arsenic compounds were onlyused as pesticides and now the use of arsenic in farming has been banned from the United States. Arsenic in the soil is a result of pesticide use, mining and ore processing, operating coalburning power plants, waste disposal, and tanneries.
You can be exposed to arsenic by:
- Touching soil that contains arsenic; digging or playing in it
- Eating soil that contains it; litte kids could eat it while playing or you could drink contaminated water
- Breathing in arsenic contaminated dust or breathing in sawdust from wood treated with arsenic
- Eye contact with arsenic contaminated dust (this is very uncommon)
High doses of arsenic can be deadly if taken in during a short period of time. Long-term, small doses will not cause an immediate effect but may result in cancer of the skin, bladder, liver, kidneys, and lungs. Even the inorganic arsenic can cause cancer. High levels of arsenic in drinking water can also cause the skin on your feet, hands and torso to conduct sores or change color.